Mizo Villagers Rally Against Dams

Aizawl, Sep 28 : Hundreds of people representing villages to be affected by the proposed five hydel projects in the northeastern part of Mizoram staged a protest rally against the dams in Aizawl today.

The rally was organized under the banner of Sinlung Indigenous People Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO), which has been actively spearheading the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam, to be built on the river Barak in Manipur.

The rallyists submitted a memorandum to the Governments of Mizoram and Manipur and the Government of India, urging them to rethink before implementing the projects.

The memorandum bore the signatures of village council presidents, NGOs and political parties of all the affected 14 villages in Mizoram alone.

''All our the small and big rivers (Tuiruong and Tuivai - Tipaimukh Dam 1500 MW, Tuivai-210 MW, Serlui-12 MW, Tuivawl-40 MW, Tuirail-60 MW) in Mizoram's Sinlung Hills Development Council areas are proposed to be dammed,'' the memorandum stated.

''When Mizoram requires only 160 MW for its own consumption, the imposition of these projects clearly points to the extermination of our land and people in the name of development,'' the memorandum said.

Moreover, these projects are without the knowledge, consent and approval of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC) and the Hmar people, it said.

Concern Over 40,000 Northeast Women Hired For CWG Services

Indian workers paint a wall near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue

Shillong, Sep 28 : An estimated 40,000 women from India's northeast were recruited by various escort services for the Commonwealth Games, sparking fears that a vast majority of the women could be engaged in a prostitution racket in New Delhi during the 12-day mega event, rights groups and a minister said here Tuesday.

'We are indeed worried with girls from the northeast, numbering somewhere around 40,000 recruited by various agencies, luring them of good money and job opportunities... it has all the possibilities of being engaged in an organised prostitution racket,' Hasina Kharbih, chairperson of Impulse NGO Network, a rights group working in rescuing women trafficked from the northeast, told IANS.

According to inputs with the Impulse NGO Network and the Meghalaya government, gullible girls from the eight northeastern states, including Darjeeling and Siliguri in West Bengal, were wooed by smart operators by putting out newspaper advertisements - promising lucrative remuneration and good assignments during the Games.

'It is not just girls from Meghalaya, but across the northeast who were being recruited. We have alerted and appealed to the public to be vigilant, to keep us informed in case they have any information on such a racket,' Meghalaya Social Welfare Department Minister J.A. Lyngdoh told IANS.

'We don't have concrete details or information, but then we are apprehensive.'

Questions are asked as to why northeast women are preferred by escort services.

'Northeastern girls are generally fair and have good features and are fluent in English and hence in demand,' Kharbih said.

'Today northeastern girls are in demand in the flourishing prostitution racket in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, and even Bangalore and Pune,' another rights leader said.

Most of these women, trapped by organised rackets, come from middle class families.

'Seedy operators also scout for good looking girls from poor families. We have come across and rescued girls in the past belonging to families living below the poverty line who were sold to the traffickers,' Kharbih said.

The Northeast Support Centre Helpline, a New Delhi-based NGO, too is apprehensive about such a design.

'We are extremely concerned with thousands of northeast girls lured by placement agencies for the Games and our fear is that they might be misused and fall into wrong hands,' said Madhu Chander of the Helpline.

'We appeal to all student leaders of the northeast based in New Delhi to look out for girls from the region already trapped in this dirty racket,' she added.

Formal Talks With ULFA in 2 Months: Gogoi

Guwahati, Sep 28 : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said formal talks with the ULFA will begin within the next two months.

“The process of holding talks with the ULFA was proceeding in the right direction and we are hopeful of sitting for formal talks with the outfit within the next two months,” Mr. Gogoi said after holding discussions with the peace-talks interlocutor P.C. Haldar here at his residence.

Mr. Haldar, who met ULFA leaders, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa at the Central Jail here on Tuesday, apprised the Chief Minister of the steps taken so far to pave the way for holding formal talks with the outfit.

Mr. Gogoi said efforts were on to bring the ULFA ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Paresh Barua for talks but “we cannot wait for him indefinitely”.

Discussions with the members of ULFA, the Sanmilita Jatiya Abartan — a body of intellectuals, and other organisations will facilitate the talks, he said.

Mr. Haldar had also met ULFA leaders in the jail after his arrival here on Monday.

The interlocutor’s presence in the State assumes significance following the arrival of more than 20 surrendered militants from Bangladesh to Assam for participating in the dialogue process.

The Chief Minister had said on Monday that militants were in the State, but not in police custody.

They, he had said, wanted talks as they had realised that development of Assam could be made only through peace and not violence.

Bum Lift - The Latest Cosmetic Craze!

Facelift and tummy tuck will soon become passé, for more and more women are opting for the trendier bum lift.

In spite of the risks involved, more and more women are going under the scalpel to have a perfect butt like J-Lo.

Constantino Mendieta is the inventor of the Miami Thong Lift, the latest way to a shapelier rear view. According to Mendieta, a Harvard-educated surgeon, there's been a steady rise in numbers of women seeking a curvier bottom, like that of Miami's famous resident J-Lo.

However, top-notch plastic surgeon Rajiv Grover explained that these operations could be risky.

Previously, the standard way to create a rounder, higher bottom was with silicone implants, similar to those used for breast enlargement.

Like J-Lo, Beyonce has 'bootylicious' bottoms.

"Implants have a tendency to move and, if they get infected, they have to be surgically removed," The Daily Mail quoted Grover as saying.

So, Mendieta uses grafts of fat liposuctioned from the thighs or stomach, purified and then painstakingly injected -- using a large needle -- into the layers of muscle of the buttocks, changing their shape from flat to super-curvy and high. Because the fat belongs to the patient, there is no risk of rejection.

The scars left by the incisions needed to inject the fat are hidden, said Mendieta, 'in the grand canyon where the thong goes', hence the name of the procedure.

Eva Longoria attributes her perfectly shaped butt to an exercise regimen that includes lunges, squats and leg presses. Exercises are undoubtedly a safer option to surgery.

However, he warns that the procedure isn't entirely risk-free.

"It needs to be done by a very experienced surgeon, in a hospital, in sterile conditions with good aftercare -- if you get an infection it could cause a very large abscess," said Mendieta.

Also, fat transfer is never 100 per cent predictable. If the fat dies and is re-absorbed by the body unevenly, you could end up with one buttock larger than the other. To say nothing of the bruising and swelling that can last for months.

Added to the risk, the cost is quite high too - approximately Rs. 6.5 lakhs.

Source: ANI
Image credits: AP, Reuters

An Outrageous Gaga

Just about three years ago the pop scene was calm with the usual splurge of new artists and old. Then came August 2008 which brought a Gaga storm that continues even today. So, will Lady Gaga be the next revolutionary of the pop world after Madonna? Build an opinion. This gallery is sure to help.

This is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Who? Lady Gaga! This is one of her most outrageous costumes, the meat dress. She wore it because: "Well, it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian. As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth. However, it has many interpretations, but for me this evening ... If we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones. And I am not a piece of meat." quoted Lady Gaga.

She glided at the VMAs this year in this dress. Looking gorgeous in a Victorian era inspired dress, Gaga makes a statement with every step of hers. She will do whatever she likes because, "We were Born That Way" she says. This also happens to be the name of her next album. Check out those shoes!

Gaga designs and makes most of her stage outfits. She manages her own creative production team called Haus of Gaga.The team creates most of her clothes, stage props and hairdos. She loves fashion. She picked this love from her mother who she states to have been "very well kept and beautiful".

When a natural brunette colours her hair blonde only because she was being mistaken for Amy Winehouse, you know she is out bold. Thats Lady Gaga. She refers to her fans as "little monsters" and has a tattoo engraved on her saying the same to pay a tribute to them.

She sports six other tattoos that include a peace symbol, inspired by John Lennon whom she states as her hero and a curling German script on her left arm which quotes the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, her favorite philosopher, commenting that his "philosophy of solitude" spoke to her.

GaGa then proposed her idea for a new law, saying that United States should go after soldiers who are "uncomfortable" with public gays instead of banning them from the military. "I am here today because I would like to propose a new law; a law that sends home the soldier that has the problem. Our new law is called 'if you don't like it, go home,' " she exclaimed to wild applause of the crowd.

Lady GaGa came out as a bisexual in 2008. Her song, Poker Face, was also about her bisexuality. On September 20 this year, on the eve of a key Senate vote in the US, she was seen speaking in front of about 2,000 people against the decision of not letting homosexuals serving in the US army. She exclaimed," "I am here today because I would like to propose a new law; a law that sends home the soldier that has the problem. Our new law is called 'if you don't like it, go home."

Lady GaGa's current fashion icons are Donatella Versace, Sharon Stone, Casino and Grace Jones. Her music clubbed with her outrageous outfits finds immense inspiration from glamrock artists David Bowie and Queen.

Gaga quoted, "Paris and Nicky Hilton went to my school. They're very pretty, and very, very clean. It's impressive to be that perfect all the time. In commercial terms, they've been quite an influence on me." Sans stinky attitude and expressive about people. Nice!

"I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I've made it my goal to revolutionise pop music. The last revolution was launched by Madonna 25 years ago," Gaga said. Ah well, that explains everything.

Source: India Syndicate
Image Credits: Reuters

‘Cooking’ Your Child's Future

Kids love to cook. "Chicken sabzi" with muck and flowers and "maggi noodles" with curly creepers along with soil for spices, they love rattling those toy vessels outdoors.

Then why not bring them to the real kitchen where anything you do, will teach them something priceless for life? Get to know why it is important for your child to spend time with you in the kitchen.

A class conducted at a youth recreation cente in Shenyang, China, taught kids how to make cake.

The highlight of a kid's diet today is fast food and soft drinks. Along with this being an unhealthy trend, you cannot avoid it either when brands bring the junk to your door-step. By letting your child watch you in the kitchen, you are instilling an idea of homeliness and good health that will help his/her sound upbringing.

Kids being taught how to spread cream over the cake.

Cooking gives them a sense of contribution towards the family along with a feeling of accomplishment of a task or doing something very important, which kids long for. It also boosts their confidence.

A girl gives final touches to her cake in class.

The kids remember these times forever. They'll have stories to tell in school, later in college and will eventually pass this sense of bonding to their families.

An instructor helps the children decorate their cakes.

Patience on your part plays a very important role. If they are taught things in a way that they'll understand, they develop a sense of pride towards who is helping them. The respect towards the person goes up and affection sets in, to stay for life.

Parents cheer as their kids are at their best.

Kids love to eat what they make. So if you manage to help them make something healthy while having some fun, they are sure to understand the importance of health better.

A boy tries to draw a face on his freshly made cake.

It is unbelievable how much kids learn about math, chemistry, geography and creativity through cooking. A simple thing like adding mustard seeds to hot oil, and much more, registers a reaction in their heads that could make chemistry as a subject interesting to understand!

Children smear cream on their cakes at the class.

An increasing number of youngsters, today, leave home for educational purposes, or otherwise, to settle far away from home. Not knowing how to cook, even if it is the basics, can leave him/her stranded hungry due to an unforeseen shutdown of stores. The act of self-sustainance is a wise idea you can equip your child with from the beginning.

A boy decorates his cake with pink ears.

Colourful things is all they like. Small cooking exercises with the family or friends can give them some of their most memorable days of childhood. It is one of the best ways to help them express and enjoy their creations.

Source: India Syndicate

Ranbir: The King Kapoor!

Having inherited the good looks of his dad, Rishi Kapoor, and the acting genes of his grandfather, Raj Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor is one of those stars who believe in being constantly on the charm offensive.

Cool and suave, Ranbir is a hot favourite among youngsters.

His latest release 'Anjaana Anjaani' hits theatres, this Friday.

We train the spotlight on Ranbir Kapoor, the Gen X poster boy of Bollywood.

Ranbir Kapoor was born on September 28, 1982.

Belonging to one of the biggest families of Bollywood, this Kapoor scion is the son of yesteryear superstars, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh.

"For me, being in the industry and being an actor is something that I was very passionate about. I didn't have any fear or pressures. I came from a cool, filmi family, so, I didn't have any fears of expectations or fears of comparison. Nothing. For me, it was the joy of being an actor, joy of being on the set, joy of having a van, joy of wearing make-up, enacting characters, etc. So, this entire notion of being an actor and what comes with an actor was very important to me," says Ranbir.

Before joining the actors' bandwagon, he worked as assistant director in films like 'Aa Ab Laut Chale', 'Prem Granth' and 'Black'.

He had also pursued method acting from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.

Ranbir made his acting debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Saawariya', for which he won the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award.

He was then seen in 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' with Minissha Lamba, Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone.

His other films include Ayan Mukherji's 'Wake Up Sid', 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' with Katrina Kaif, and Shimit Amin's 'Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year'.

He won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance for all three films in 2009.

His upcoming movie is Siddharth Anand's 'Anjaana Anjaani'.

Set in the US, the story revolves around San Francisco-based Kiara (Priyanka) and New York boy Akash (Ranbir), who are tired of making it big in life and striking gold. After several failed attempts to be successful in their careers and love, both decide to end their lives. And as luck would have it, they land up on the same bridge at the same time!

Akash stops Kiara from ending her life. He tells her to travel with him to Las Vegas to give life another chance, and thus begins a hilarious misadventure that brings them closer. However, destiny interrupts again and the duo are forced to part with the understanding that their days together were a brief interlude of insanity, which had to succumb to real life.

Ranbir is currently working on Imitiaz Ali's 'Rockstar'.

Ranbir has previously dated Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Nandita Mahtani and Avantika Mallik.

He is the brand ambassador of John Players, Pepsi, Panasonic and several other brands.

When asked to describe himself in 5 words, Ranbir says, "Receptive, hardworking, talented, a good person, and shy."

The Story Behind The Brazilian Wax

Revealing swimwear gave rise to the Brazilian wax, many cultures thought having body hair was uncivilised and French women don't wax their underarms — these are just some ‘hairy’ facts that some experts have revealed recently.

However, Victoria Sherrow, author of 'Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History', has said that historians are unable to pinpoint the first group of women to remove body hair.

Women in ancient Egypt used beeswax and depilatories made from an alkali, like quicklime, to remove leg hair, she said.

Ancient Romans and Greeks used pumice to remove body hair.

"Some cultures regarded it as uncivilised, since body hair appears on animal bodies," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sherrow as saying.

"The idea of a hairless body for American women developed between 1915 and 1945," she added.

Many attribute the kickoff in 1915 to Gillette's Milady Decollete, "the first razor designed and marketed specifically for women, and was billed in the extensive national advertising campaign as the "safest and most sanitary method of acquiring a smooth underarm," according to author Russell Adams in 'King C Gillette: The Man and His Wonderful Shaving Device'.

The trend also picked up as sleeveless dresses and sheerer fabrics became fashionable and hemlines rose.

Safety razors were also produced en masse.

"As the middle class grew, women's lives increasingly became defined by spending power and habits," wrote Jennifer Scanlon, professor of gender and women's studies at Maine's Bowdoin College, in her book 'Inarticulate Longings: The Ladies' Home Journal, Gender, and the Promises of Consumer Culture'.

It was the perfect storm for advertisers as magazines like Ladies' Home Journal and Harper's Bazaar flooded homes, not only informing, but shaping women's concepts of beauty.

"You see this kind of transformation of the female body - that women are increasingly to be looked at," said Scanlon of advertisements at the time.

"There's sort of the promise that more and more women can gain access to beauty if they engage in these practices (like) shaving their armpits," she added.

While engaging in such practices was synonymous with femininity, during the 1970s and 1980s, not engaging in them became the "litmus test of feminism", said Scanlon.

But since that time, bikini-line hair removal and waxing the whole genital area gained more steam as bikinis became teenie weenie.

Brazilian bikini waxes are "the most popular service" at Chicago's Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and are "much more popular now than ... four or five years ago", according to Red Door esthetician Mirela Munteanu.

Customers still say "it's a nice feeling that their skin is soft. I believe they feel more feminine".

European women, on the other hand, tend to leave armpits as nature intended.

British fashion writer Suzannah Frankel says it's the stuff of legend that European women, the chic, beach-loving French in particular, are less likely to remove underarm hair than their British counterparts, who are, also famously, considered not to be as comfortable in their own skin.

Source: ANI